Olympics

You may find a few lingering pockets of unstable wind-drifted snow near the tops of the higher peaks and in the southern/eastern portions of the range. Be careful if you see smooth pillow-like drifts especially if the slope sits over a cliff, rocks, or trees.

This storm pattern continues to favor the southern and eastern portions of the Olympic Mountains and shadow Hurricane Ridge. It’s hard to say exactly how much snow fell in the more remote areas of the range. If you travel to these more far-flung areas, you may find more snow, greater uncertainty, and higher avalanche danger. Be ready to make observations and form your own opinion about conditions. 

Most wind slabs formed over the past several days likely healed due to time and mild temperatures. However, if you’re going to trigger a meaningful avalanche, it will probably be in an older pile of wind-drifted snow. Keep your eyes open if you’re venturing into some of the upper-elevation terrain, particularly along exposed ridges, in the tops of chutes, and near the base of cliffs. Look for scoured slopes, textured surfaces, and sharp drifts to point toward firmer slabs. While most of these avalanches should stay small, they may be just big enough to flush you down a chute or over a cliff. 

Another mild cloudy day at Hurricane Ridge helped the snowpack continue to settle and gain strength. In general, the upper snowpack consists of 6-8 inches of snow over the burly 2/11 crust. In more wind-loaded areas (northerly aspects), you could find a foot or more of recent snow. While some weak snow has been identified in the upper snowpack, it’s unlikely to produce an avalanche under the current conditions. 

Warmer weather on Saturday caused snow surface to become wet and stick. Manly slopes release piles of rollerballs as snow shed from rocks and trees. No significant wet loose slides were reported. 

Sadly, a below-average snowpack continues to be the proverbial thorn in our side in the Olympics. Thin to non-existent snow cover at lower elevations and on southerly aspects can make travel challenging. However, numerous obstacles, including run creeks and open holes, can make it much more dangerous. Take it slow and give yourself time to deal with these persistent hazards. 

NWAC may issue a gray "No Rating" for an elevation band when there is not enough snow to present an avalanche hazard.